Piston ring anti-rotation

Abstract

A squeeze film damper bearing assembly includes a bearing and a squirrel cage radially outward of and supporting the bearing. The squirrel cage includes a first piston ring groove, a second piston ring groove, and a first pocket connected to the first piston ring groove. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly also includes a first piston ring configured to fit into the first piston ring groove. The first piston ring includes a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end and an ear configured to fit into the first pocket to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly also includes a second piston ring configured to fit into the second piston ring groove and a stationary housing radially outward of the squirrel cage.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A squeeze film damper bearing assembly comprising:
 a bearing; 
 a squirrel cage radially outward of and supporting the bearing, the squirrel cage comprising:
 a first piston ring groove and a second piston ring groove; and 
 a first pocket connected to the first piston ring groove; 
 
 a first piston ring configured to fit into the first piston ring groove, the first piston ring comprising:
 a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end; and 
 an ear configured to fit into the first pocket to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove; 
 
 a second piston ring configured to fit into the second piston ring groove; 
 a stationary housing radially outward of the squirrel cage. 
 
     
     
       2. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ear of the first piston ring is connected to the first end of the first piston ring. 
     
     
       3. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 2 , the first piston ring further comprising:
 a second ear connected to the second end of the of the first piston ring; 
 wherein the second ear is configured to fit into the first pocket of the squirrel cage to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove of the squirrel cage. 
 
     
     
       4. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first ear of the first piston ring is spaced 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the first end and the second end of the first piston ring. 
     
     
       5. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the squirrel cage further comprises a second pocket connected to the second piston ring groove. 
     
     
       6. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second piston ring comprises:
 a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end; and 
 a first ear configured to fit into the second pocket to prevent the second piston ring from rotating in the second piston ring groove. 
 
     
     
       7. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 6 , the second piston ring further comprising:
 a second ear connected to the second end of the of the second piston ring; 
 wherein the second ear is configured to fit into the second pocket of the squirrel cage to prevent the second piston ring from rotating in the second piston ring groove of the squirrel cage. 
 
     
     
       8. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first ear of the second piston ring is spaced 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the first end and the second end of the second piston ring. 
     
     
       9. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first piston ring and the second piston ring comprise cast iron. 
     
     
       10. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary housing comprises titanium. 
     
     
       11. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a damper annulus between the first piston ring, the second piston ring, the squirrel cage, and the stationary housing. 
     
     
       12. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first piston ring and the second piston ring form a seal between the squirrel cage and the stationary housing to contain oil in the damper annulus. 
     
     
       13. A squirrel cage assembly comprising:
 a squirrel cage comprising:
 a first piston ring groove and a second piston ring groove; and 
 a first pocket connected to the first piston ring groove and a second pocket connected to the second piston ring groove; 
 
 a first piston ring configured to fit into the first piston ring groove, the first piston ring comprising:
 a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end; and 
 a first ear configured to fit into the first pocket to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove; and 
 
 a second piston ring configured to fit into the second piston ring groove, the second piston ring comprising:
 a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end; and 
 a first ear configured to fit into the second pocket to prevent the second piston ring from rotating in the second piston ring groove. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first ear of the first piston ring is connected to the first end of the first piston ring. 
     
     
       15. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first ear of the second piston ring is connected to the first end of the second piston ring. 
     
     
       16. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 15 , the first piston ring further comprising:
 a second ear connected to the second end of the of the first piston ring; 
 wherein the second ear is configured to fit into the first pocket of the squirrel cage to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove of the squirrel cage. 
 
     
     
       17. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 16 , the second piston ring further comprising:
 a second ear connected to the second end of the of the second piston ring; 
 wherein the second ear is configured to fit into the second pocket of the squirrel cage to prevent the second piston ring from rotating in the second piston ring groove of the squirrel cage. 
 
     
     
       18. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first ear of the first piston ring is spaced 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the first end and the second end of the first piston ring. 
     
     
       19. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first ear of the second piston ring is spaced 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the first end and the second end of the second piston ring. 
     
     
       20. The squirrel cage assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first piston ring and the second piston ring comprise cast iron.